Some of the most common questions we are asked by patients are, “How long should I continue to take hormone replacement? Do I need to take it long-term, and is it safe to do so?”
To answer these questions, it is important to note that hormone levels decline as we age, and often, our lifestyles can accelerate that process. For example, high stress, poor sleep, and highly processed foods can all contribute to more rapid aging, menopausal symptoms, and the onset of chronic disease.
For this reason, we advocate BHRT (hormone therapy with bioidentical hormones) for the lifespan to help patients feel and function their best, along with increasing their longevity and helping them decrease their risk of cardiovascular disease, diabetes, obesity, cancer, dementia, and osteoporosis, to name a few.
Therefore, we recommend that patients integrate their hormone therapy treatment plans, such as estrogen or testosterone therapy, into their long-term health strategy.
However, you don’t “have to” take anything long-term, and we will always help you weigh the pros and cons of your treatment options. If you decided to discontinue BHRT, your own hormones would just decline back to your baseline levels, which often results in the return of your original symptoms, potential weight gain, and a loss of the protective benefit of bioidentical hormones used in hormone therapy.
The safety of BHRT is well established by decades of research. If you have questions about the best way to maximize the benefit of hormone therapy for your long-term health or menopausal symptoms or have a specific health concern that you want to focus on, please let your provider know!
Advantages of Bioidentical Hormone Therapy vs. Synthetics
Bioidentical hormones possess the same molecular and chemical structure as natural hormones in the human body. This is in contrast to synthetic hormones (e.g., Premarin and Provera), which often have side effects and a risk of blood clots and some types of cancer. Bioidentical hormone therapy is not associated with these risks and, in fact, can improve your well-being and longevity.
If you want to learn more about bioidentical hormone therapy or any of our other services, please give us a call. We want to help you on your journey to wellness.
